career change success stories

[FN FAL]

I'm thinking that I can take my Criminal Justice Degree and turn it into a management position with the State Bureau of Prisons. Seeing as fuel is going up to 6 bucks a gallon, I figure wide spread layoffs and runaway inflation is going to insure a spiralling out of control crime wave. So at least I'll have that going for me.

 

[FlyBunny]

Good Thread...

I was quite established in my career as a research assistant and meeting and involved with incredible people, but flying was in the blood (father/mother) and decided a career change...became a CFI, worked the corporate gig, and now at the airlines (…and I met incredible people here as well!) ...some of you are right on...I love flying, but the management part, RONs, hotels, security, and the bickering just is too much...I got in touch with the professor I was working with and got the first gig back, working that job full time while I flew full-time...that keeps me busy when not flying...and gives me a much needed reprieve...seriously thinking of leaving this to continue further education in my first profession...but I want to keep flying too...yep, money doesn't make us all happy, but it helps with the bills and lifestyle...for me QOL means more than anything...if you're serious about a career change...do what makes you happy because you can always fly...it doesn't have to be airline flying...there are so many part 91 and 135 operations who employ part-time pilots and QOL is quite good...and don't worry about your 'info upgrade', it has no meaning on this board...after all no one can really substantiate the numbers...a student from my previous flight school is on this board as a CRJ pilot...showing over 2000 hours of TT...

Good Luck with your 'career change' decision!

Bunny

 

[AZ Typed]

A career change has been one of the best decisions I've made in my life. I spent 5 years getting my certificates, 2 years instructing and nearly 5 years flying little RJs around the midwest and east coast. In November of 2003 I'd had it with scheduling, pay, QOL, whining, commuting, and most of all I saw no future as an airline pilot. Most of the folks I was flying with were 35-50. The 50 year-olds looked worn and were mostly cranky, missed lots of family events, and had lost sight of living. The 35 year-olds were having kids, enjoying the left seat, never home, sorta clueless about their future plan, and had dreams of getting on a SWA, UPS or FDX. To me, it seemed they were perfectly positioned to end up like the cranky 50-year old RJ captain. And most had no backup money or plan for when their airline career hit a bump in the road.


I started looking for something else to do. I wanted lots of time off, high pay, a good schedule, and a future I could control. So, I got licensed in insurance and securities and started helping people with their finances from risk management to debt, education, and retirement planning. I'm now starting to set up and take over small-business retirement accounts and have built a small team of mortgage brokers, too. The first year was tough, as with anything you do on your own, but now it's starting to pay off. I'm getting more money under management (which pays me for years) and meeting all kinds of middle-americans. I don't worry about the price of gas, I take time off (more than I ever had as a high-seniority FO), make more money, and I control my own future.

A career change was one of the best decisions I've made. I'm lucky enough to do a little flying on the side now in a light jet to get my "fix". I still watch every airplane that flies over until it disappears. But I don't miss any of the BS associated with a career as an airline pilot. It's just not worth it, long term, to me.

I once read: "When your values are clear, your decisions are easy." That little phrase made my decision easy and I don't regret leaving airline life one bit. Hope this helps...

AZT

 

[Bryan D]

I've been around and I'm here to tell you that any job that is worth having comes with it's own set of problems. I had a dead end job that paid about what a second or third year captain at the regional level makes but, it gave me headaches and I began talking to myself out loud on the drive home after work everyday. Changed careers and here I am, whole new set of problems but I enjoy my work at least.

 

[Flying_Corporal]

I have done a search of past posts but just wanted some additional info. Thanks

This is a wrong msg board to get a good opinion poll. Everyone here is either flying for a living or aspiring to fly for a living.

Those that once flew and decided to quit probably don't read messages in regional airline msg board.

FC

 

[jetpig32]

Just curious why those (previous posts) who got out of flying because they hated the situation are still surfing this board. Perhaps some part of them wants back in????? Just an idea.

 

[JimBo480]

I left flying for another job when NWA kicked me to the curb in the spring of 2002. It took awhile but I finally landed a great job as a manufacturing engineer using a 20 year old degree in mechanical engineering.

I work at a plant that's 5 miles from home, 8:00 to 4:30 and can have any day or afternoon off with 5 minutes notice. The people I work with are superb, my boss is great and I enjoy the work. Being home every night has brought me closer to my teenage kids and if I think about it hard enough I can almost convince myself that the layoff was a blessing for our family. Almost.

The job I left was great, not as much fun as flying F-16's in the military but I thoroughly enjoyed the job (not to be confused with the company). Unfortunately the job I left is no longer there. By the time they finish gutting the contract and lowering the wages I'm not sure if the job will be worth returning to. I'm only about 25 from recall, but given the chance I wouldn't give up my current job to return now. They could easily furlough another 1000 if scope is lost in the next rush to concessions.

I read these boards every couple of weeks; I still enjoy aviation and would like the opportunity to return to flying if the industry ever settles down. But after 3 plus years I'm no longer holding my breath waiting for the job to return.

Jim, furloughed and enjoying life

 

[AZ Typed]

This is a wrong msg board to get a good opinion poll. Everyone here is either flying for a living or aspiring to fly for a living.FC

Wrong.

Those that once flew and decided to quit probably don't read messages in regional airline msg board.
FC

Wrong, again.

 

[AZ Typed]

Just curious why those (previous posts) who got out of flying because they hated the situation are still surfing this board. Perhaps some part of them wants back in????? Just an idea.

Want back in? Maybe - but what I need to go "back in" just will not happen. Once a pilot - flying is in your sould, wouldn't you agree?

That's why I browse the boards now and again. Good idea, though.

AZT

 

[Always deferred]

I left to get some other business experience. I don't want to be like a buddy of mine who is 53 yrs old, been through 3 airline shutdowns, 3 furloughs, 10 paycuts, his wife took the kids and left, and he has nothing to show for his 20+ years in the industry but a CHQ FO uniform now.

It's not worth it anymore.

Besides, the technology in the pipeline now at the major design organizations is going to make piloting even less of a skill and with that comes less pay.

 

[Always deferred]

I left to get some other business experience. I don't want to be like a buddy of mine who is 53 yrs old, been through 3 airline shutdowns, 3 furloughs, 10 paycuts, his wife took the kids and left, and he has nothing to show for his 20+ years in the industry but a CHQ FO uniform now.

It's not worth it anymore.

Besides, the technology in the pipeline now at the major design organizations is going to make piloting even less of a skill and with that comes less pay.

I do check back though because I like to keep a pulse on what's happening with my former employer.

 

[Wantfrys]

I second that. I've seen to many pilots lose 3-7 jobs in a lifetime only to begin at the bottom with pi$$ poor wage. When I got furloughed for the third time I said that's it. Since than I reconnected with my wife and am home everyday. Sure I miss the layovers,but now I can actual buy a full price beer and not feel bad stealing it from the plane.

 

[Steepturn]

I've been testing at police departments again (I did the same after 9-11). As many have said before, it's not worth what may or may not come in the long run. I'm missing out on too much now (family, friends, etc..). The minute one of those departments calls I'm out the door to a much happier life. I do not plan on leaving aviation completly though. I'll still fly odd jobs here and there on the side and also fly for fun again when I feel like it. I will miss some of the layovers though, but this time it will be better because I'll be able to take my family with me and positive space is a good thing.

 

[tjsatter]

UNbelievable!!

I can't believe I'm reading a career change thread about people wanting to leave flying to go work in business. You guys are F***Ing out of your minds to comtemplate such nonsense. I left what anyone here could term a succesful business career to fly. AT the end I was making as much as a senior captain does now at my line. I would not go back if they DOUBLED my pay, you don't know how good you got it. I love this job, wish I'd been here 20 years earlier rather than all that effort I wasted on the corporate crap. I get more time off, I work with competent people, NO politics, I come in, do my job, go home. I worked in business and flew in the back of the bus all the time wishing I was up front. I'm still in the bus but I've moved up to first class (forward facing windows) and I don't have to go to those stupid meetings anymore. A definite upgrade. Read "Dilbert" if you want to know what the life on an engineer is like. You think management treats the workers bad? They treat each other even worse. When you are on salary they think they own you. You don't get time off.

I was management, a Senior Technical Director. I hated it and will NEVER, NEVER go back to an office job. I spent all day surrounded by morons who I would never voluntarily choose to be around. In this job, the rare ass is endured for 4 days max and I don't see him again for months. And the vast majority are great guys that I consider it a privelige to work with, Heck, some of them know more about flying that I do!

I used to ride around in the Lear a lot, wishing I was up front, I'd read "Professional Pilot" magazines that the pilots had left and see an article about moving to the back. I couldn't believe it because I was reading flying magazines trying to figure out how I could get a seat up front while they were reading articles about how to get a seat in back. Is NOBODY happy with there life?! Well, I am, and I will stay a pilot as long as I can pass the med and checkrides. I'll drive a truck before I go back to a GD office.

just my $.02 worth, I return you to your regular BS.

tj

 

[Always deferred]

I can't believe I'm reading a career change thread about people wanting to leave flying to go work in business. You guys are F***Ing out of your minds to comtemplate such nonsense. I left what anyone here could term a succesful business career to fly. AT the end I was making as much as a senior captain does now at my line. I would not go back if they DOUBLED my pay, you don't know how good you got it. I love this job, wish I'd been here 20 years earlier rather than all that effort I wasted on the corporate crap. I get more time off, I work with competent people, NO politics, I come in, do my job, go home. I worked in business and flew in the back of the bus all the time wishing I was up front. I'm still in the bus but I've moved up to first class (forward facing windows) and I don't have to go to those stupid meetings anymore. A definite upgrade. Read "Dilbert" if you want to know what the life on an engineer is like. You think management treats the workers bad? They treat each other even worse. When you are on salary they think they own you. You don't get time off.

I was management, a Senior Technical Director. I hated it and will NEVER, NEVER go back to an office job. I spent all day surrounded by morons who I would never voluntarily choose to be around. In this job, the rare ass is endured for 4 days max and I don't see him again for months. And the vast majority are great guys that I consider it a privelige to work with, Heck, some of them know more about flying that I do!

I used to ride around in the Lear a lot, wishing I was up front, I'd read "Professional Pilot" magazines that the pilots had left and see an article about moving to the back. I couldn't believe it because I was reading flying magazines trying to figure out how I could get a seat up front while they were reading articles about how to get a seat in back. Is NOBODY happy with there life?! Well, I am, and I will stay a pilot as long as I can pass the med and checkrides. I'll drive a truck before I go back to a GD office.

just my $.02 worth, I return you to your regular BS.

tj

see if you still feel that way after 3 pay cuts and 2 furloughs.